Pepai Jangala Carroll

Pepai's mothers country is near Docker River, NT, and his Fathers country is near Kintore also in NT.

"Art is also a type of memory theatre for Pepai Jangala Carroll. Although based for decades in Pukatja...Carroll's custodial home country is his father's country near Kintore in the Northern Territory. Carrying the recurring title of Walungurru, in this naming, like the act of painting and working in clay, is recuperative for Carroll, enabling him to call up Luritja/Pintupi country." (Lisa Slade, 2016.)

Pepai was born in Haasts Bluff, and later moved to Papunya when the new settlement was created there. He went to school in Papunya before moving to Areyonga, where he finished school. He then travelled on horses with his family to Eagle Bore, which is a homeland just north of Ernabella, and he has been living in Ernabella ever since. He married Alison (Milyika) Carroll when he was a young fella working in the community office. They have 5 children.

His first work was building fences around the Ernabella Station, and later worked in the Ernabella community. He also worked in the office and was Community Chairperson. He became a warden when he was a young fella, and he also became the Director of Nganampa Health, the regional health body. He was then appointed the Community Constable, a position he held until 2006 when illness forced him to retire.

In 2009, Pepai began to paint at Ernabella, and in 2011 he started making ceramics. His distinct style in depicting his father's country has seen his work selected as a finalist in the Indigenous Ceramics Art Award (2014). Pepai's ceramics and paintings have been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Araluen Collection and ArtBank. Annually since 2011 Pepai has led the Watiku (men’s) ceramics workshop in the Ernabella ceramics studio. These workshops and Pepai’s involvement are responsible for bringing the next generation of men into the art centre. In May 2015 he had his first solo exhibition, at Alcaston Gallery in Melbourne and was also included in the Desert Salon exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia as part of the Tarnanthi Festival. In early 2016 Pepai was included in Magic Object: Adelaide Biennal of Contemporary Australian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, curated by Lisa Slade.

Pepai paints stories from his Fathers Country and the Wati Nyiru and Seven Sisters story.